Cooling tower



March 10, 1953 J. B. BAIRD ET AL 2,631,022

COOLING TOWER Fild Oct. 8, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l (Jo/m 5. Band Neal 5. Lou/Bach I/Vl/E/VTORS A TLQR/VEYJ March 10, 1953 J. B. BAIRD ET AL COOLING TOWER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1948 5 mm M 5 U V M 5 m N ATTO/P/VIFKS Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,631,022 COOLING TOWER John B. Baird aha Neal B. La-u Bathiieiisjten,

Tex., assignorstoHudson Engineering Corporation, Houston, Tex., aretirporation or Texas Application bctober 8, 1948-, Serial No. 53,552

This invention relates to im rovements ih'ee'el ing towers, and more pattiz'ularl'5 to improved Slat-type, Water-filming structure or packing therefor; the primary abject of the invention beihg to provide thegieatst possible water surface Subject to efficient counter-current air flow.

Another object is the provision 'of a Cooling tbwer in which air flowing through the tower will be able to take its most natural paths of new will meet the least possible resistance, but in which the liquid will be interrupted in its fall to provide the maximum area Of liquid surface fol contact with the air. 1

Another ob ect is the provision or a tewer r a Shape susceptible cf more economical and stronger construetith, eiieiihgless wind resistance and much inore stable under Wind pressure, providing a, miniinmnpf dead space in the tower, and providing for a natural path of flow of air therethrough. I 7

Another object or the invention is the rovis on of a lathoi slat-typ filming structure bilfiaeking of the above-indicated character involving the use of banks 'of vertically arranged filming lath, wherein the lower ends of the banks are spread out and breaker baflies are'used above and between the u per ends bi adjacent'laths, where by the water falling upon the bafiie's is splashed uphill over the upper ends of'the laths and pievented from falling directly between the laths without contacting thennthereby providing a break of the water in addition to that occurring at the spray heads above the deck, in a manner to assure filming of all water at the upper ends of the slats. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a water-filming structure of the character indie cated above wherein the increased efiicien'cy of the supporting members permits the use of short and cheaper slats or laths in an economical con struction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of filming structure or packing construction of the above-indicated character wherein the bank of slats are made up of units each consisting of a hanger beam or bar to which the upper ends of the slats are secured to depend therefrom in edge-spaced relation, the units being arrangedin side-'by-side relation and'removably rested on in% clined cross-members extending between and at the sides of the cooling tower framework. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a filming structure or packing construction as above-described, for a cooling tower of thetype having an upwardlytapering"framework, wherein "12 claims; (01. 26min) 2 the banks at mining slats an the slats thereof are angmateii with respect to the perpendicular, to e' n'iorzii to the tap r or the tower framework and the cross-seamen thereof. K

other objects ahd advantageeus features bf the invention win be ap arent from the following eeseiiptihh and accompanying raw n s wherein, merely for present purposes of ilmstfratiph, a specine embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail. I

In the drawins i V p J Fig. ,1 is a vertieai ibhgitudinai section taken threu a cooling tower having a shape ahdnlming structure or packing in accordance with the present inventien; W H p Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse seetien'; I 1 "Fig. 371s an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing the structure of an end of the upper part of one of the filming units and its asee'ciatieh with a suppbrtiiig member of the towe'r'iiamewoik; and H Fig. 41s a fragmentar view 'upb an enlarged seine illustrating the mounting of the packing decks and the spacerstheieior. v i Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughput the several v ews the numeral 5 generalis designates the framework of a cooling tower aving upward:

1y converging s aese, e, an updraft fan ring 1 en upper en With th usual fan 'OI" blOWer there: in, water spray pi es 1 spaces below th upper end of the ramework, air inlet l'ouvers 8 in the latter part of the framework, with the improved stitltliie or packing l0 sup orted iin-' mediate]? beneath the spray pipes 1' and above the louvers '8. In the vertical space between the spray pipes 1' and the'l'ouver's 8 the framework has paialll upper, intermediate and IOWi CIOSS- members 52, i3 and Hi, respeetive1y,ra1thg the front arid. back sides of the fiamWOik. These (i'lossfiieiffibei's decline tdward the 11116619 1115- right H, and support andp'osition the paekihg b. The packing I0, whichin this case is a filming structure, comprises oppositely angulated banks 15 a d s which are of substantially similar echstruction and arrangement relative to the framework 5. ach ank 'e'om rises a phirality 6i units 11, each comprising an upper hanger beam IE, to one side of which wooden or other suitable lightweight by naming. As shown inFig. 3, the upper ends (it thelaths l9 are spaced belowthe upper edge of the beam 3, and the adjacent edges of the laths are r iativ 'i y' closel sp te and are partner the end lathe heme substantialli spaced iieiii' inateriallaths or slats 19 are secured, as

the adjacent ends of the beam l8 to provide an overhang to rest upon the angulated framework cross-members l2, l2, and I3, l3, respectively, with the beams extending from front to rear in Fig. l, and from side to side in Fig. 2.

The laths or slats (9 are all of the same length and may be short lengths in which case two of the units I! are used together as illustrated.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lower ends of the lathe in each unit are spaced and connected by a lower beam 2|, narrower than the upper beam I8 and spaced upwardly from the lower ends of the slats l9. Thus two units H may be readily fitted together by placing the ends of slats l9 projecting below beam 2| of the upper unit ll in overlying relation to the upper portion of beam l8 of the lower unit IT. This beam [8 also extends outwardly from the main body of the composite unit to rest upon support H. The units ll merely rest in place upon the frame members 12 and may be removed and replaced at will.

Affording proper transverse spacing of adjacent units H are spacer bars 23 and 23, notched as indicated at 24, to receive the edges of the upper and lower beams l8 and 2|. The notches of the lower spacer bar 23' are spaced apart a somewhat greater distance than the notches of the upper spacer bar, in order to gradually increase the spaces between the adjacent transverse rows of slats 19 from top to bottom.

It will be appreciated that while slats arranged as described are preferred, filming surfaces of fabric or cords or breakers of slats differently arranged may be employed, but in accordance with this invention should be arranged to provide waterfall interrupters with their major surfaces disposed substantially parallel to the natural flow paths for air through the tower.

Supported transversely upon the upper spacer bars 23 and over the space between each pair of adjacent transverse rows of slats or waterfallinterrupting membersthat is, between each pair of adjacent units l'|are triangular breaker baffles 26. These breaker baffles constitute a water break in addition to the spray pipes 1 and are so located above the upper ends of the rows of slats as to splash water falling upon the bafiies uphill and over the upper ends of the rows of slats, thereby preventing any water from falling downwardly into the spaces between the rows of slats without effective filming contact therewith, substantially at the top ends of the slats, thus ensuring filming of all of the water at the upper ends of the slats and more even and uniform fiow of the water over the filming surfaces.

The water after cooling collects in sump 21 and may be withdrawn therefrom.

Because of the nature of this construction and the arrangement of the slats, it has been found practical to build and use together two units employing four-foot long slats instead of one unit using six-foot long slats formerly used, without substantially increasing the board feet of framing required for the units. Since the fourfoot long slats are far cheaper than the six-foot slats, the cost of the presently disclosed structure is much less than that heretofore employed.

It will be observed that in the above-described arrangement not only is the falling water confined to definite and uniform paths of downward movement between the rows of slats and filmed to provide large surface areas for contact with air, but the air moved upwardly through the filming structure in by the fan I is also confined to these paths, and that as a result there is obtained a true countercurrent contact of the water and the air. Since the air flows along natural flow paths and without substantial obstruction, adequate volume and movement of air can be produced with less power, and hence at lower cost.

Important advantages are also to be gained by the shape of the tower. Thus, this shape being structurally more rigid and stronger than a rectangular tower, it has been found that for a given size tower 4" x 4" corner frame members are adequate, whereas in conventional towers of rectangular shape but of corresponding size, these members must be at least 4" x 6". Furthermore, the shape offers less resistance to winds. Such wind pressure as is exerted on the tower has a definite and substantial downward component, thereby tending less to overturn the tower and more to hold it against the ground. In this shape of tower the dead and practically useless spaces at the upper corners of a rectangular tower are eliminated. The shape of the tower with the air inlet openings at the lower ends of the sloping walls also provides for a natural inclined flow path for air from each such inlet to the fan, a path which crosses the vertical natural falling path for water. With the water-deflecting slats arranged with their flat sides in planes parallel to this air path, they permit substantially unobstructed flow of air yet prevent free falling of water and force it to film over the slats to provide large surface areas in direct contact with the freely flowing air. From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a cooling tower having a vertical framework, an updraft fan on its upper end, and water spray pipe means below said fan, a water-filmin structure within said framework below said spray pipe means, said filming structure comprising a bank of transverse rows of slats with their longitudinal dimension vertically arranged, the slats in each row being in parallel edge-spaced relation with their faces residing in two parallel planes and adjacent rows of slats being laterally spaced from each other, the spacing of adjacent rows of slats increasing gradually from the upper ends toward the lower ends of the slats.

2. In a cooling tower having a vertical framework, an updraft fan on its upper end, and water spray pipe means below said fan, a water-filming structure within said framework below said spray pipe means, said filming structure comprising a bank of transverse rows of slats with their longitudinal dimension vertically arranged, the slats in each row being in parallel edge-spaced relation with their faces residing in two parallel planes and adjacent rows of slats being laterally spaced from each other to provide uninterrupted straight nest-goat air flow passages therebetween, the spacing of adjacent'rows of slatsincreasing gradually from the upper ends toward the lower ends of the slats, and breaker bafiles positioned alternately with said rows of slats and above the upper edges thereof, each baffle having an upwardly facing surface disposed at an angle to the vertical-for splashing water falling thereon from said spray pipe means ontothe upper end of one of said rows of slats to prevent water falling directly through the spaces between the rows of slats without contact with the slats. I

3. In a cooling tower having a vertical framework, an updraft fan on its upper end, and'water spray pipe means below said fan, a water-filming structure within saidframework below said spray pipe means, said filming structure comprising a bank of transverse rows of slats with vertically arranged longitudinal dimensions, the slats in each row being in parallel edge-spaced relation with the faces residing in two parallel planes adjacent rows of slats being laterally spaced from each other, the spacing of adjacent rows of slats increasing gradually from the upper ends toward the lower ends of the slats, and triangular breaker baffles having one angle facing upwardlypositioned alternately with said rows of slots and above the upper edges thereof for splashing water falling thereon from said spray pipe means onto the upper ends of said rows of slats and prevent water falling directly through the spaces between the rows of slats without contact with the slats.

4. In a cooling tower, a vertical framework having two downwardly divergent sides, an updraft fan on the upper end of said framework, spray pipe means within said framework below said fan, and a water-filming structure within said framework below said spray pipe means, said filming structure comprising two banks of filming units, each unit comprising an upper beam having a multiplicity of slats secured at their upper ends to a side thereof and depending in parallel spaced edge-to-edge relation from said upper beam, a lower beam securing lower portions of said slats in place relative to each other, means spacing adjacent units apart in the banks, parallel cross members on said framework extending on two sides thereof between said converging sides comprising oppositely, laterally, inwardly, declining portions upon each of which a corresponding one of said banks is supported, said upper unit beams having projecting end portions removably resting upon said declining portions of said framework cross-members whereby said banks are supported with the slats of their units at substantially the same angle with the perpendicular as the converging sides of said framework.

5. A filming structure or packing for a cooling tower having a framework having two opposite upwardly converging sides, said filming structure comprising a multiplicity of transverse rows of slats, the slats in each row being in parallel edgespaced relation with their faces residing in two parallel planes and with vertically arranged longitudinal dimensions, said rows supported in laterally spaced relation between the upwardly converging sides, said rows of slats being spread at their lower ends whereby successively, laterally outward rows of slats diverge progressively from the perpendicular toward the opposite, upwardly converging sides of said framework so that outer ones of said rows substantially conform to the angularity of said upwardly converging sides of said framework to provide uninterrupted straight air'flow'passages' between adjacent rows. 6: A filmingstructure' or packing for a cooling tower having a'framework with two opposite, upwardly-converging sides, said filming structure comprising a multiplicity of transverse rows of slats, the slats in each row being in parallel edgesp'aced-relation with their faces residing in two parallel planes and having their longitudinal dimensions arranged vertically, said rows supported-in'late'rally spaced relation between said upwardly converging sides, said rows of slats being spread at their lower ends whereby successively; laterally outward rows of slats diverge progressively from the perpendicular toward the opposite; upwardly'converging sides of said framework-so that outer ones of said rows substantially conform to the angulartiy of said upwardly convergin sides of'said framework to provide uninterrupted straight air flow passages between adjacent rows, and breaker baffles positioned alternately with said rows of slats and at the upper ends thereof.

A cooling tower comprising a vertical framework having two downwardly divergent sides, means for providing an updraft of air through thefram'ework, means for distributing a liquid to the-upper interior of the framework, parallel cross members on said framework extending on two sides thereof between said converging sides, said cross members having oppositely, laterally, inwardly declining portions, a liquid filming packing including rowsof slats arranged with their longitudinal dimensions extending substantially vertically, each of said rows including a plurality of slats arranged in parallel edge-spaced relation and each row of slats having parts extending laterally and removably resting upon the parallel cross members and spacer members maintaining substantially equal spacing between adjacent rows of slats.

8. A cooling tower comprising a vertical framework having two downwardly divergent sides, means for providing an updraft of air through the framework, means for distributing a liquid to the upper interior of the framework, parallel cross members on said framework extending on two sides thereof between said converging sides, said cross members having oppositely, laterally, inwardly declining portions, a liquid filming packing including rows of slats arranged with their longitudinal dimensions extending substantially vertically, each of said rows including a plurality of slats arranged in parallel edge-spaced relation and each row of slats having parts extending laterally and removably resting upon the parallel cross members and spacer members maintaining substantially equal spacing between adjacent rows of slats, said spacer members holding the lower ends of adjacent rows further apart than the upper ends whereby successively outward rows of slats diverge progressively from the perpendicular so that outer ones of said rows conform to the angularity of the diverging sides of said framework.

9. A cooling tower comprising a vertical framework substantially rectangular in shape at any horizontal cross-section, means for providing an updraft of air through the framework, means for distributing a liquid to the upper interior of the framework, parallel cross members upon two opposing sides of the framework, the portion of each cross member adjacent the intersected side of the framework extending substantially perpendicularly thereto, and liquid filming packing within the framework below the liquid distributing means including rows of slats with their longitudinal dimensions extending downwardly, each of said rows including a plurality of slats arranged in parallel edge-spaced relation and said rows extending transversely of the cross members and having laterally extending parts removably engaging and supported by said cross members.

1 The tower of claim 9 wherein a plurality of spacer members, extending transversely of the rows of packing slats, maintain substantially equal spacing between adjacent rows of slats.

11. The tower of claim 9 wherein the two sides of the framework intersected by the cross members diverge downwardly and a plurality of spacer members, extending transversely of the rows of slats, maintain substantially equal spacing between adjacent rows of slats with the rows diverging downwardly to cover the space between the diverging sides.

12. In a cooling tower, a vertical framework having two downwardly divergent sides, an updraft fan on the upper end of said framework, spray pipe means within said framework below said fan, and a water-filming structure within said framework below said spray pipe means, said filming structure comprising two banks of filming units, each unit comprising a multiplicity of slats secured in parallel spaced edge-to-edge relation with their faces in two parallel planes, means spacing adjacent units apart in the banks, parallel cross members on said framework extending on two sides thereof between said converging "sidescomprising oppositely, laterally, inwardly.

declining portions upon each of which a corresponding one of said banks is supported, lateral extensions upon each unit removably resting upon said cross-members whereby said banks are supported with the slats of their units at substantially the same angle with the vertical as the converging sides of said framework.

JOHN B. BAIRD. NEAL B. LAU BACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 444,558 Klein Jan. 13, 1891 1,187,399 Stocker June 13, 1916 1,225,889 Thomas May 15, 1917 1,235,291 Clarke July 31, 1917 1,948,980 Coffey Feb. 27, 1934 1,987,881 Von Seggem et a1. Jan. 15, 1935 2,132,939 Elmer Oct. 11, 1938 2,207,272 Simons July 9, 1940 2,347,757 Thomas May 2, 1944 2,363,578 Dieter Nov. 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,724 Great Britain July 30, 1903 

